Democratic effect on GOP primary?

February 25, 2012

While only President Barack Obama appears on the Democratic presidential primary ballot, several candidates appear on the GOP version. With voters in Michigan able to declare their party preference at the polling booth, the only thing that separates Democrats and Independents from crossing over Tuesday to the GOP ballot is that declaration (which is public record) and perhaps some annoying party campaign literature and robo calls in the future.

That thinking hasn't gone unnoticed in political circles. The Washington Post last week discussed that option as a very real concern to GOP party officials in Michigan. The newspaper reported the liberal blog "Daily Kos" urged Democrats in Michigan to do just that, and vote for Rick Santorum instead of Mitt Romney, who because of his Michigan roots, is expected to have somewhat of a "hometown" advantage.

Editors at the blog write "in any case, it's freaking hilarious. I mean, Rick Santorum? Really? The Republicans have offered up this big, slow, juicy softball. Let's have fun whacking the heck out of it."

Maybe. But that "juicy softball" seems to have momentum on his side and is more like a snowball rolling downhill these days.

At this point Democrats may not need even bother worrying. With Romney and Santorum exchanging blows of their own daily, one wonders how much will be left in either come November.